An 8-year-old Arizona girl may have been killed by a car during a hit-and-run, police said.
Federal authorities are continuing to investigate the death of Maleka “Mollie” Boone – a Native American girl who disappeared on January 15 while playing in her hometown of Coalmine, Arizona, – is now believed to have been hit by a vehicle in what they describe as a hit-and-run.
The FBI Phoenix Field Office and the Navajo Nation Police Department revealed on Wednesday, February 25, that it appears that Boone was hit by a passing car on the night of January 15. They believe that the driver was completely unaware that they had hit the little girl, which may have revealed the reason why the car did not stop.
Investigators said the vehicle may have been large — a truck, perhaps — and expressed their desire to speak with the driver.
Boone, who is a member of the Navajo tribe, was reported missing around 18:00 on January 15. Police believe that Boone was on his way home after playing with his local friends when he was hit by a passerby, who may not have been paying attention.
A Turquoise Alert – Arizona’s rapid public notification system for missing or endangered people under the age of 65, including tribal members – was issued recently.
The child was described in the alert as a “Native American female, 4 feet 5 inches tall, 50 pounds, with brown eyes and long, brown hair with French braids on both sides,” who was last seen wearing a “red jacket, blue jeans and cowboy boots.”
Boone’s body was found around 8:30 a.m. on January 16 in a field on the Coalmine Navajo Housing Authority property.
The search for Boone included agents, officers and deputies from the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the US Marshals Service, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and the Flagstaff Police Department.
Authorities are asking to speak to anyone who may have information about vehicles that were traveling on Cedar Loop Road within the Coalmine Navajo Housing Authority between 5:50 pm and 6:20 pm on January 15.
“The FBI has established a command post at Coalmine … and any information is being sought,” read a statement from the Navajo Police Department. “The details of when Maleeka Boone was last seen by her family and community members [are] It is still being investigated.”
President of the Navajo Nation Buu Nygren released an emotional statement about Boone’s tragic passing.
Authorities in Indiana are searching for a missing 17-year-old girl who has not been seen by her family for days, police said. Hailey Buzbee, of Fishers, was last seen on the evening of Monday, January 5, according to the Fishers Police Department. His family, who informed the police about his disappearance, believe that he ran away […]
“Our nation mourns the loss of a child who was taken too soon,” reads a statement expressing Nygren’s condolences to Maleeka’s loved one. “We ask the public to keep the family in prayer and respect their request for privacy at this time of great sorrow. May the Creator bring comfort and peace to all those who have suffered.”
On Thursday, February 26, the FBI announced a $25,000 reward for information related to Boone’s death.
Anyone with information related to this case or a vehicle in the area at the time mentioned is urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.
The investigation is ongoing. The FBI has yet to elaborate on the development that led investigators to conclude that a child may have been hit by a car and they have not said whether the driver in question has been identified or will face criminal charges.
